Verdict
Summary
A rollicking adventure with lots of ‘70s flair and a bevy of impressive monsters and sets.
Plot: An expedition chartered by a father-and-son pair of scientists accidentally discovers Atlantis after being attacked by a giant octopus.
Review: There’s something to be said about monster movies. They’re thrilling, they’re exciting, and they generally know how to tell a story. I’d never heard of Atlantis before my good friends, Eoin and Edward, decided to show it to me, and like most hidden gems, this one is a blast.
What is striking while watching this film is how great the monsters are. There are about five in total, with the giant octopus probably being the best, in my opinion. When it attacks the ship, it grabs things off the deck and waves them around. In today’s world, a computer would generate the octopus, put in the layers, the skin tones, set the light, all that stuff. The rest of the set, the objects wrapped in its tentacles, would likewise be generated solely by computer. Yet, there’s something to be said about building a good old-fashioned animatronic and having it physically interact with the cast and the set. It gives it more life and realism. I am not opposed to CGI – it’s given us some good stuff. There’s nothing like old-fashioned models and creating a creature that operates in the real world, though.
The monsters don’t just look good, though – they attack constantly. There’s constant danger in this movie, and it’s primarily from the impressive monsters that Roger Dicken and his crew have created. To have the monsters this much in the film, they have to stand up to the audience’s scrutiny, and in this film’s case, they pass with flying colours.
The sets are likewise impressive. There’s an impressive scale to them and a general creativity to build a world from scratch, and this movie does so with aplomb. I love matte paintings, and this movie has some wonderful examples of how great they can look on screen. In general, the scope of this movie far exceeds its budget.
Mike Vickers does the score, and it’s memorable in the tradition of all great ‘70s flicks. Much like the set, there’s a tone of high adventure and impressive soaring music, letting you know you’re going on a journey of something extraordinary. The score is catchy, and you’ll struggle to get it out of your head.
The story is darker than you would think and takes the viewer on some twists and turns that are impossible to predict. The Atlanteans evoke images of other totalitarian regimes, and the movie does not shy away from showing you those images. In today’s hyper-sensitive world, this movie would inevitably be cancelled (which may be one of the reasons we haven’t received a proper Blu-ray release yet), which is a shame. History is there to tell us how not to act in the future. To ignore or repress that is akin to stating it never happened.
The movie ambles along at an agreeable 98-minute run time, and again, like all good ‘70s potboilers, it takes time to set everything up. This contrasts with today’s bloated runtimes, where stories spin out endlessly, not really saying anything other than the writer’s personal agenda or showcasing that the writer doesn’t know how to craft an exciting story properly. When the action starts in this one, whether it’s monster attacks, prison escapes or battles between the Atlanteans and the crew of the Texas Rose, it never stops moving.
As for the characters, Doug McClure is fine as the film’s hero, and Peter Gilmore is a suitable foil for McClure as the intellectual Charles. Lea Brodie is charming as the heroine, Delphine, who shows reserves or strength that you initially don’t think exist. Michael Gothard is subtly arrogant as Atmir, the head of the Atlantean guards. John Ratzenberger appears in a decidedly different role from his Cheers Cliff Clavin role. Film favourites Cyd Charisse and Daniel Massey appear as the domineering Atlantean king and queen. It’s a decent cast that knows enough to let the splendour and excitement of the film be the stars.
Overall, I highly enjoyed this flick and recommend it. For those who enjoy ‘70s creature features, this is a must-view. There’s enough artistry, adventure, wonder and thrills to please any genre fan.